Former Day Care Owner Sentenced To 96 Years To Life For Sexual Assault

GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) – A former day care owner convicted for the second time of sexually assaulting girls in his care was sentenced to 96 years to life in prison.

“He’s a dangerous individual. He should never get out of prison,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Peter Weir.

Joseph Renander was originally found guilty in 2006.

He sexually assaulted six girls at his Lakewood and Golden day care centers between 2001 and 2005.

“Mr. Renander stole the innocence of many young girls including my three daughters,” testified a father of three victims in 2006.

He was convicted and originally sentenced to 78 years in prison. But due to an error in jury instructions, his first conviction was overturned.

Joseph Renander being taken away after his original conviction in 2006 (credit: CBS)

Most recently in May, yet another jury found him guilty in his retrial after his victims were forced to relive their assaults for a second time in court.

“That is courage. To go through this one time and then step up a second time and walk into a courtroom in front of 12 strangers and tell the truth,” said Weir.

After both trials and both convictions, Renander’s mother maintains her son’s innocence.

“I feel badly for all the girls involved. I would say the DA’s office has a lot to do with all the repercussions that fall upon them in prosecuting a case and keeping things alive. What can I say, I believe he’s innocent,” said Renander’s mother Kathy Renander.

“He should never have the opportunity to be in our community and have the ability to prey on our children,” said Weir.

Renander told the jury he was writing books for parents about how to keep their children safe from predators. He also has a website for child safety tips that his mother continues to operate while he is in prison.